Interchangeable lock and chain stitch sewing-machine.



.- PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

' E. J. TOOF.

INTERGHANGEABLE LOCK AND CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5. 1905.

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PATENTED JULYVBO, 1907.

E.J.TO0F. INTEROHANGBABLE LOOK AND CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5 1906..

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No. 862,033. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. E. J. TOOF.

INTERCHANGEABLE LOCK AND CHAIN STITCH SEWING MACHINE.

APPLIOA'IION FILED JAN. 5. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3,

No. 862,033. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907. E. J. TOOP.

.INTERGHANGEABLE LOOK AND CHAIN STITCH SEWING MAGHINB.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. a. 1905.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co., wasumamu, 0, c4

EDWIN J. TOOF, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

INTERCHANGEABLE LOCK AND CHAIN STITCH SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed January 5, 1905. Serial No. 239,696.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, EDWIN J. T001, a citizen of the United States, andresident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inInterchangeable Lock and Chain Stitch Sewing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines and moreparticularly to improvements in that class of sewing machines adapted tobe used interchangeably for lock and chain stitch sewing. In somemachines of this class, such for example as that shown in Letters PatentNo. 687,511, dated Nov. 26, 1901, a

change from lock to chain stitch sewing is effected by the removal fromthe usual shuttle or looper of the under-thread-carrying bobbin and thesubstitution therefor of a so-called chain-stitch attachment. Suchremoval and substitution of parts, however, is more or less troublesome,and it has been the main object of my present invention to provide asewing machine having means whereby it may be readily and convenientlyadapted for making either a lock or chain stitch without the removal orsubstitution of any parts.

To this end the invention, in one form thereof, comprises thecombination with a single looper-driver, of a carrier having lock andchain stitch loopers supported thereby and being movable to shift thesupported loopers severally to and from an operative position forconnection with the looper-driver, and suitable means for effectingconnection of the respective loopers with the looper-driver when inoperative position relatively to each other, the said parts being soconstructed and organized that a mere shifting of the looper carrier apredetermined distance, preferably by an operating means arranged abovethe bed-plate in a convenient position to be reached by the operator, isall that is necessary to adapt the machine for either form of stitching.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of thisspecification, in which I have shown only so much of a sewing machine asis necessary to illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a partialunder-side view of a sewing machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is acentral longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 3 is a top plan of a partof the bed-plate of the machine containing the slot in which moves thecarrier adjusting-screw. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective of theconnecting ends of the looper-driver and one of the looper-shafts. Fig.5 is a partial under-side view of a machine embodying another form of myinvention. Fig. 6 is a central longitudinal section of the same. Figs. 7and 8 are detail sectional views through lines 7-7 and88 of Fig. 5respectively. Fig. 9 is a partial under-side view of a machine embodyinganother form of the invention. Fig. 10 is an enlarged cross-sectionthrough line 1010 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detail to be hereinafterreferred to. Figs. 12 and 13 are front views of a lock-stitch looper anda chain-stitch looper, respectively.

Similar reference characters designate like parts in the several figuresof the drawings.

As my present invention relates only to the looper mechanism of thesewing machine, and as such mechanism will cooperate with the otherparts of the stitchforming mechanism in the formation of stitches in theusual manner, I have deemed it unnecessary in the present case toillustrate and describe other than the said looper mechanism of themachine.

Referring now to the drawings, 1 indicates the bedplate of a sewingmachine, and 2 a shaft journaled in hangers 3, 3, at the under side ofsaid bed-plate. This shaft 2, which constitutes a looper-driver, may beoperated at its rear end in any usual or suitable manner, and at itsfront end is adapted to have operative con.- nection with a looper toactuate the same.

In accordance with my invention, as before referred to, I employ aplurality of loopers, one being preferably a lock-stitch looper such asshown in Fig. 12, and the other a chain-stitch looper such as shown inFig. 13, and support the same by a suitable carrier which may be movablein any suitable manner to shift the supported loopers severally to andfrom an operative posi tion for connection with the said looper-driverto be actuated thereby. The said loopers, indicated at 4, 4, may be ofany usual or suitable construction and may also be supported by theircarrier in any desired or suitable manner, the same as shown in Figs. 1and 2 being respectively mounted directly on short shafts 5, 5, whichare journaled in hangers 6, 6, on the under side of the movablelooper-carrier, which latter as shown in said Figs. 1 and 2 is in theform of a plate 7 pivoted to 'the under side of the bed-plate at 8 andbeing oscillatory to shift the supported loopers to and from anoperative position for connection with the looper-driver. A connectionbetween the respective loopers and the looper-driver when brought intooperative position relatively to each other, whereby the loopers will beactuated by said driver, may be effected in any suitable manner, but asa simple and convenient means for effecting such connection I haveprovided the looper-driver at its front end with a transverse groove 9and each of the respective looper-shafts 5, 5, with a tongue 10 forentering said groove, the said parts being so arranged that upon theshifting of the looper-carrier the proper distance the tongue of onelooper-shaft will be withdrawn from the groove of the looper-driver andthe tongue of the second looper-shaft entered therein, whereby the firstlooper will be moved to an inoperative position relatively to thelooper-driver and the second looper moved to an operative positionrelatively 2 supporting the same as shown.

thereto, or, in other words, the first looper will be renderedinoperativeand the second looper operative.

As it is obviously desirable that a close union should be effectedbetween the looper-driver and the respec- 5 tive looper-shafts so as toavoid any undue noise or rattling such as might be caused by a looseconnection between the parts, I have made the tongues on theloopershafts tapering or wedge-shaped and have also made the groove inthe driver of like form to closely receive the tongues; the said groove,however, being made with its walls converging toward the center fromopposite sides thereof in order to receive and properly coact with thetongues when arranged to enter the same from opposite sides as shown inthe present case. As a means to support the looper-carrier at its frontor looper-suping operated from some point convenient to the operator andpreferably at a point above the bed-plate. To effect this, I haveprovided the carrier with an arm 14 extending to a point adjacent to therear side of the bedplate with which arm an adjusting-screw 15 atthe'upper side of the bed-plate connects through an elongated slot 16 insaid bed-plate. By this means a movement of the said adjusting-screw 15from one end of the slot 16 to the other is the only operation requiredon the part of the operator, other than the loosening and tightening ofsaid screw, to change the machine from one form of stitching to another.7

In shifting the respective loopers to and from an operative position inconnection with the looper-driver, it is desirable that such partsshould at all times be maintained in position to effect coupling orconnection when brought into operative position relatively to eachother, whereby no other operation to effect connection of the parts isrequired than the mere shifting of the looper-carrier. As a simple meansfor maintaining the parts in such position, and as shown in Figs. 9 to11 inclusive, each of the looper shafts 5, 5, adjacent to their inner ordriver connecting ends are provided with a flattened surface 18 which,when the looper is shifted to an inoperative position away fromconnection with the driver 2, will engage with the edge of a stationaryrib l9 projecting downwardly from the under side of the bed-plate andoperate to hold the looper-shaft against rotation and with its tongue 10in aposition to enter groove 9 of the driver when the looper is againmoved into operative position relatively to the latter,

the said rib being formed with a cut-away portion 20 at a point in linewith the driver so as to permit rotation of the looper-shafts when inoperative connection with the driver. Such described means operate tohold the 6 0 loopers in a non-rotary driver-connecting position whendisconnected from the driver, but as a means to maintain the driver withits groove in a position to receive the tongues of the looper-shafts asthey are moved into connection therewith, I have so arranged the innerends of the looper-shaftsrelatively to the looper-driver that upon theshifting of the looper-carrier 7 to effect a change of loopers, thetongue of one looper-shaft will enter the groove of the looper-driver atone end thereof prior to the complete withdrawal of the tongue on theother looper-shaft from the opposite end of said groove, in a manner asclearly shown in Fig. 11. In this way, turning of the looper-driver suchas would prevent the ready connection or engagement therewith of theloopershafts is prevented.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a means 7 is also providedsimilar to that shown in Figs. 9 and 11 for holding the loopers in'driver-connecting position when disconnected from the driver, that is,the looper shafts are each provided with a flattened surface 18 which,when the loopers are shifted to an inoperative position away fromconnection with the driver, will engage with the edge of a stationaryrib 19 projecting downwardly from the under side of the bed-plate andoperate to hold the looper-shaft against rotation and with its tongue 10in position to effect connection with the driver when moved intooperative position relatively thereto. shafts are arranged farther apartat their rear ends than in the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 11 sothat a complete disconnection of the driver from both loopershafts takesplace during the shifting of the loopers. As such disconnection is butmomentary, however, there is but little liability of the looper-driverbecoming so turned during the looper shifting operation as to preventthe connection therewith of the looper-shafts, and this can be avoidedby the operator holding the driver stationary by means of the usualhand-wheel (not shown) during the said looper-shifting operation.

Another difference in the constructions illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3inclusive and Figs. 9 to 11 inclusive, respectively, is the location ofthe carrier-adjustingscrew. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 3the pivot 8 of the looper-carrier is located nearer the rear end of themachine and the said looper-carrier is provided with an arm 14 extendingat substantially rightangles therefrom to a point adjacent to the rearside of the bed-plate for the connection therewith of theadjusting-screw 15, while in the construction shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inwhich the pivot 8 of the looper-carrier is located nearer the front endof the bed-plate, I have extended the operating arm or end 14 of thecarrier substantially straight therefrom to a position to be engagedthrough a slot 16 in the bed-plate by an adjusting-screw 15 locatedadjacent to the base of the machine arm (not 'shown). As before stated,however, the particular means employed to shift the looper-carrier orthe particular location of such means is immaterial to my invention.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive, I have shown a form of myinvention in which the looper-carrier, instead of being supported tohave an oscillatory movement as in the other figures referred to, issupported to have a reciprocatory movement. In this case, the carrier,indicated at 7, is slidably mounted in suitable guide-ways 22, 22, inhangers 23, 23, on the under side of the bed-plate in a manner to bemovable transversely of the bed-plate in shifting the supported loopersand looper-shafts to and from an operative position for connection withthe looper-driver. As a means for operating the carrier as thussupported, I have mounted a 130- In this case, however, theloopertatable crank-disk 24 in a seat or socket 25 of the bedplate andprovided the same with a crank-pin 26 arranged to extend and operate ina transverse groove 27 in the carrier 7. With such construction andarrangement of parts, a rotary movement of the crank-disk in its seatwill operate to shift the looper-carrier, and as a simple and convenientmeans for operating such crankdisk for the purpose stated I haveprovided the same with a pivoted handle 28 the free end of which may beraised above the bed-plate for the purpose of operating the crank-diskand thereafter be dropped or seated in a groove 29 in the bed-plate.When the handle 28 is seated in the said groove 29 it will be below orflush with the upper surface of the bed-plate so as not to interferewith the Work passing thereover and will also operate to hold or lockthe looper-carrier in its shifted or adjusted position. In theconstruction shown in these Figs. 5 to S inclusive, the loopers willalso be held in driver-connecting position when disconnected from thedriver in the same manner as illustrated in the other figureshereinbefore described, that is, each looper-shaft is provided with aflattened surface 18 which will engage with the edge of a stationary rib19 on the bed-plate when moved to an inoperative position away fromconnection with the looper-driver, in a manner as clearly shown in Fig.'7.

Having thus set forth certain embodiments of my invention, it will beunderstood that the same may be materially modified within wide limitswithout departure from the spirit of the invention, for

What I claim is:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looper- (lriver, of acarrier having a plurality of loopers supported thereby and beingmovable to shift the supported loopers to and from an operative positionfor connection with said looperdriver, and means for effectingconnection of the respective loopers withthe looper-driver when intperative position relatively to each other.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looperdriver. of acarrier having chain and lock stitch loopers supported thereby and beingmovable to shift the supported loopers to and from an operative positionfor connection with said looper-driver, and means for effectingconnection of the respective loopers with the looper-driver when inoperative position relatively to each other.

3-). In a sewing machine, the combination of a looperdriver, and acarrier having a plurality of loopers sup- I)L.l't0d thereby and beingmovable to shift the supported loopers to and from an operative positionfor connection with said loopei driver, the said looper-driver and therespective loopers having means for effecting detachable connection whenbrought into operative position relatively to each other.

-.l. In a sewing machine, the combination of a looperdrix er, and acarrier having a looper supported thereby and being movable to shift thesupported looper to and from an operative position for connection withsaid looperdriver, the said looper-driver and looper being provided, onewith a tapering groove and the other with a tapering or wedgeshapedtongue to enter said groove, whereby detachable connection will beeffected between the same when brought into operative positionrelatively to each other.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination of a looperdriver, a carrierhaving a plurality of loopers supported thereby and being movable toshift the supported loopers to and from an operative position forconnection with said looper-driver, means for elfecting connectionbetween the respective loopers and the looper-driver when in operativeposition relatively to each other, and means for maintaining the saidlooper-driver in looperconnecting-position during the shifting of therespective loopers to and from a position for connection therewith.

G. In a sewing machine, the combination of a looperdriver, a carrierhaving a plurality of loopers supported thereby and being movable toshift the supported loopers to and from an operative position forconnection with said looper-driver, means for effecting connectionbetween the respective loopers and the looper-driver when in operativeposition relatively to each other, and means for maintaining the loopersin driver-connecting-position when disconnected from the driver.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination of a looper driver. a carrierhaving a plurality of loopers supported thereby and being movable toshift the supported loopers 'to and from an operative position forconnection with said looper-driver, the said looper-driver I and therespective loopers having means for effecting detachable connection ofthe same when brought into operative position relatively to each other,and means for maintaining the said looperdriver inlooper-connecting-position during the shifting of the respective loopersto and from a position for connection therewith.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination of a lo0perdriver, a carrierhaving a plurality of loopers supported thereby and being movable toshift the supported loopers to and from an operative position forconnection with said looper-driver, the said looper-driver and each ofthe respective loopers being provided, one with a groove and the otherwith a tongue to enter said groove, whereby detachable connection willbe effected between the driver and the respective loopers when broughtinto operative position relatively to each other, and the said tongueand grooved parts also being so arranged that during the shifting of thecarrier a connection will be retained between the driver and one looperuntil a connection between the driver and a second looper is effected,for the purpose set forth.

0. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looperdriver, of acarrier having a plurality of loopers supported thereby and beingmovable to shift the supported loopers to and from an operative positionfor connection with said looper-driver, means for effecting connectionof-the respec tive loopers with the looper-driver when in operativeposition relatively to each other, and means for moving the carrier toshift the position of its supported loopers.

10. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looperdriver, of acarrier having a plurality of loopers supported thereby and beingmovable to shift the supported loopers.

generally to and from an operative position for connection with saidlooper-driver, means for effecting connection of the respective loopersand looperdriver when in operative position relatively to each other,and means for moving the carrier and securing the same in adjustedposition.

11. In a sewing machine, the combination with a rotary looper-driver, ofa plurality of looper shafts having loopers connected therewith, acarrier supporting said looper shafts and being movable to shift thesame to and from an operative position for connection with thelooper-driver, and means for effecting connection of the respectivelooper shafts with the looper-driver when in operative positionrelatively to each other.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with a rotary looper-driver, ofa plurality of looper shafts having loopers connected therewith, and acarrier supporting said looper shafts and being movable to shift thesame to and from an operative position for connection with thelooper-driver, the said looper-driver and the respective looper shaftshaving means for effecting detachable connection when brought intooperative position relatively to each other.

13. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looperdriver, .of apivoted carrier having a plurality of loopers supported thereby andbeing movable to shift the supported loopers severally to and from anoperative position for connection with said looper-driver, and means foreffecting connection of the respective loopers with the looper-driverwhen in operative position relatively to each other.

l-i. In a sewing machine, the combination with a looperdriver, of apivoted carrier having a plurality of loopers supported thereby andbeing movable to shift the supported loopers to and from an operativeposition for connection with said looper-driver, means for effectingconnection of the respective loopers with the looper-driver when inoperative position relativelyv to each other, and means for securing thecarrier in a stationary adjusted position. I

15. In a sewing machine, the combination with the bedplate and alooper-driver supported in hearings at the bed-plate to secure thecarrier in stationary adjusted posi- 10 under side thereof, of a pivotedcarrier having a plurality tion. of loopers supported thereby and beingmovable to shift Signed at New York in the county of New York and thesupported loopers to and from an operative position for State of NewYork this 4th day of January A. D. 1905. connection with saidlooper-driver, means for efifieeting eon- EDWIN J TOOF' nection of therespective loopers wlth the loopendriver when in operative positionrelatively to each other, and Witnesses: I means located at the upperside of the bed-plate and con- CHAS. F. DANE, meeting with the carrierthrough an elongated slot in said E. M. FAITH.

